Stay Informed

Pregnancy & Birth

Pregnancy and birth are as ordinary and extraordinary as breathing, thinking or loving. And both call on an individual’s creativity, flexibility, endurance and humor.

Pregnant women face many choices that will affect the pregnancy, birth experience and life as a new mother. Learning as much as you can about the developing pregnancy and various childbirth practices will help as you consider such questions as: What kind of care do you want to receive during pregnancy? Where do you wish to give birth? Who would you like to be with you when you are in labor?

Most pregnant women are bombarded with advice from well-meaning friends and relatives — and even strangers. Everyone seems to have an opinion on what women should or shouldn’t do, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by conflicting recommendations.

The articles here will help you sort fact from fiction. Drawing on the most accurate research, the experiences of numerous women, and the advice of midwives, physicians and other health care providers, will help you to gather the information needed to make wise decisions and to approach birth with confidence.